MOUNT OLIVET -- Parents dropped off their children or busses arrived in time for the morning bell at Deming School, earlier this week. The only thing unusual was the presence of a few news media members hovering near the driveway.Following a Lexington news broadcast on Sept. 7, about rumored and alleged misconduct by a female teacher, residents may have been loosely talking about rumors, but kept tight lipped when asked for comments or factual information.
"All I have heard is the rumors. I don't know the teacher. If the rumors were true, then something should be done," said one woman walking her daughters to class.
What has recently been verified by school officials is this: Crystal Wells, a Deming math teacher, has been disciplined by the school for what Superintendent Chuck Brown called "bad judgment" in text message communications between Wells and a teenage boy at the school.
In a Ledger Independent interview with Brown earlier last week, he declined comments on the accusations of inappropriate cellular phone activities between Wells and male students. At the time, Brown refused to confirm that Wells was not in class, reassigned or under any disciplinary action. Her position at the school was defined as "still employed here," and Brown confirmed Wells was entering her fourth year as a teacher at Deming.According to several Deming students, Wells had not been in her classroom during that same time and a substitute was in her place.
She was back on Monday...Parental complaints may have prompted the disciplinary action by the school, but no criminal complaints or charges have been filed, said police officials.
According to Kentucky State Police, Robertson County Sheriff's Office and Mount Olivet Police Department officials, allegations have not been forwarded to their agencies for investigation."You have to wonder how it would have been handled if the teacher was male and doing the same thing with girls," said Sheriff Randy Insko. "I have only heard what everyone else has, on the street, but no official investigation has been asked for."
...The Ledger Independent has been informed that a complaint filed by Wells in the past resulted in a male student, over age 16, being expelled for allegedly touching her. In that incident as well, no law officials were included in the school actions.
Family members of one alleged victim, who is under age 16, said they are concerned for the emotional welfare of the boy, but have been asked by other family members not to disclose details at this time. They were not happy Wells had returned to the school...
From Deming School Superintendent Chuck Brown,
dated Sept. 10, 2007
"Official disciplinary action was taken against Crystal Wells
in the form of an unpaid suspension.
This action was deemed necessary based on the following facts:
1.There were in excess of 3,000 text messages exchanged between her cell phone and that of a male student between January and April. The content of these messages is unknown.
2.Several of these messages were sent during school hours, which is in violation of school board policy.
There have been no allegations, nor has there been any evidence of any immoral or illegal activities on the part of Mrs. Wells.
The court of public opinion is quite possibly the most powerful court in the land. Unfortunately, decisions regarding guilt or innocence are based on half-truths or “testimony” from those unrestrained by a duty to confidentiality. While it is true that public school employees are subject to the same scrutiny as elected public officials, they do have the right to due process in matters regarding disciplinary action. Until all rights to appeal have been exhausted, any such action is not official and therefore is not available for public knowledge."
This from the
Ledger Independent.
